Painting of Prophet's footprints to be sold at UK auction

A rare, 18th century painting of the Prophet Mohammed’s (pbuh) footprints is to be auctioned in the UK on May 21.

Painted during the time of the Ottoman Empire, the piece is decorated in gold ink and is expected to sell for between £10,000-15,000 ($15,000-$23,000).

Auctioneer Mullock’s said that the painting is based on imprints left in stone by the Prophet. Some of these footprints have been moved and preserved in mosques, shrines and tombs of prominent Islamic figures, while others are house in Istanbul’s Topkopi Museum.

A similar depiction of the Prophet’s footprints can be found on an 18th century Iznik tile in Greece’s Benaki Islamic Museum.

“The painting is of the finest quality and an extremely important piece of Islamic heritage,” said Richard Westwood Brookes, of Mullock’s.

The auction will include a number of other early portraits of the Islamic Mughal rulers of India, as well as fine early silk Islamic tomb cover.

The sale will take place on Tuesday May 21 at the Clive Pavilion, Ludlow Racecourse, Ludlow, Shropshire.